Social Media for the C-Suite
3 May 2018
Social media
It’s time for the C-Suite to start getting active on social media. Find out here the benefits for your personal brand and company in the brave new world of communication. Almost three billion. That’s the number of active social media users in the world. Sixty-four percent. That’s the number of consumers who say they are more likely to trust a brand if it interacts with consumers in a positive way on social media. Less than 40 percent. That’s the number of CEOs from some of the world’s biggest companies who are engaging on a social network. So why aren’t more members of the c-suite using social media? For some, it’s a belief that social platforms are reserved for less serious matters. For others, it’s a lack of time or confidence. But in today’s world of posting, sharing and tweeting, staying quiet may prove costly. When social media is done well, it can be the ideal way to grow your company’s brand, understand what your stakeholders want, and be on the front foot to respond to a crisis. So, whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or one of the dozens of smaller social platforms, once you’ve signed up, here are the top ways to benefit.
Build your brand and position in the market
Social media platforms are an ideal way to announce company news, with a focus on the key messages you want to deliver to your customers, staff, shareholders and the industry. But from the perspective of a CEO, the platforms also allow you to post thought-leadership pieces on important subjects that will assist in raising your profile as an opinion leader. This provides stakeholders with a clear understanding of what matters to your organisation and, with the right momentum, can assist in achieving change at an industry, government or regulatory level.
Show your appreciation
Whether it’s showing gratitude to your team or your clients, saying ‘thank you’ never goes out of style – even when it’s a digital show of appreciation. You can also use social platforms to connect with media representatives and retweet or share their positive news stories about your business or the sector to further build your online network.
Be on the front foot with crisis management
During a crisis, social media provides a clear and direct line of communication to your stakeholders to share with them what has happened and what you are doing to respond. Updates can be tweeted succinctly; maps and more detailed information can be posted; and, from the viewpoint of a company leader, a personal message can be shared that demonstrates genuine care, compassion and action.
Open the door
When a new client is looking at working with you, or a potential new hire is applying for a job, the first thing they will do after googling your company, is to search for the company’s key people. First impressions can make or break the relationship, so having an up-to-date online presence that showcases your background, your current work projects and the issues or ideas that set you apart from your competitors is vital.